was going to tell you that I'd forgiven you, because very likely you
never meant her to write to you" (Dulcie had not been told the sequel to
the Davenant episode, which was quite as well for Paul). "But you don't
seem to care whether I do or not."

"I feel so miserable!" sighed Paul.

"Then you must drink some coffee," prescribed Dulcie decidedly; "and you
must eat some breakfast. I brought an egg on purpose; it's so
strengthening, you know."

"Don't!" cried Paul, with a short howl of distress at this suggestion.
"Don't talk about the--the flogging, I can't bear it."

"But it's not papa's _new_ cane, you know, Dick," said Dulcie
consolingly. "I've hidden that; it's only the old one, and you always
said that didn't hurt so very much, after a little while. It isn't as if
it was the horsewhip, either. Daddy lost that out riding in the
holidays."

"Oh, the horsewhip's worse, is it?" said Paul, with a sickly smile.

"Tom says so," said Dulcie. "After all, Dick, it will be all over in
five minutes, or, perhaps, a little longer, and I do think you oughtn't
to mind that so much, now, after mamma and I have begged you off from
being expelled. We might never have seen one another again, Dick!"

"You begged me off!" cried Paul.

"Yes," said Dulcie; "Daddy wouldn't change his mind for ever so
long--till I coaxed him. I couldn't bear to let you go."

"You've done a very cruel thing," said Paul. "For such a little girl as
you are, you've done an immense amount of mischief. But for you, that
letter would not have been found out. You need not have spoilt my only
chance of getting out of this horrible place!"

Dulcie set down the tray, and, putting her hands behind her, leaned
against a corner of a wardrobe.

"And is that all you say to me!" she said, with a little tremble in her
voice.

"That is all," said Paul. "I've no doubt you meant well, but you
shouldn't have interfered. All this has come upon me through that. Take
away the breakfast. It makes me ill even to look at it."

Dulcie shook out her long brown hair, and clenched her small fist in an
undeniable passion, for she had something of her father's hot temper
when roused. "Very well, then," she said, moving with great dignity
towards the door. "I'm very sorry I ever did interfere. I wish I'd let
you be sent home to your papa, and see what he'd do to you. But I'll
never, never interfere one bit with you again. I won't say one single
word to you any more.... I'll